HomeMy WebLinkAboutMMB_Barnstable_NOIhearing presentation_2025Sept9_smallerMarstons Mills River Bogs
Eco -Restoration Project
Wetlands Protection Act
Application for an Ecological Restoration Notice of Intent
Conservation Commission Hearing
September 9, 2025
Air Photo and Project Site Location
Marstons
Mills River
Project Area
Project Team
•Owner:
•Barnstable Clean
Water Coalition
•Project Partners:
•EPA
•Mass DER
•TNC
•Barnstable Land Trust
•Cape Cod Cranberry
Growers Association
•Design:
•Inter-Fluve
•Horsley Witten
•Mashpee
Wampanoag Tribe
Project Goals:
•Improve water quality through
nitrogen and nutrient
attenuation that occurs in
healthy wetland habitats;
•Enhance habitat for aquatic and
wetland organisms;
•Maintain cranberry farming in
adjacent bogs;
•Maintain passive recreational
opportunities
Why Restore Retired Cranberry Bogs?
Unique Attributes
of MMR Bogs
Restoration
•Nitrogen Attenuation Primary Goal
•Active Farming Remaining Adjacent to
Restored Areas
•Important Herring Run Immediately
Downstream
•Several “Sister” Projects Complement
This Project
•Middle Pond Fishway
•Comprehensive Study Area
•EPA WQ Monitoring
Ecological Restoration Notice of
Intent
•Filed Under the Stream Daylighting
Category
•9 Undersized Culverts/ Berms to be
Removed
•No Replacement Crossings
Interests Under
the WPA
•Flood Control
•Storm Damage Prevention
•Erosion and Sediment Control
•Water Quality Improvement
•Wildlife Habitat
•Protection of Fisheries
•Recreation and Aesthetics
Permitting Pathway – Ecological NOI Track
•Notice of Ecological Restoration Project to MEPA - Complete
•Section 401 WQC (DEP) – NOT Required
•Ecological Restoration NOI
•Section 404 (USACE) – To be Filed
•Section 106 Historical Review
•Essential Fish Habitat Review
•USFWS Review
•Chapter 91 Permit (DEP) – To be Determined
•MA CZM Consistency Review -To be Filed
•EPA Sole Source Aquifer Review - To be Filed
Marstons
Mills River
Cell 1
Site Map
Comprehensive Study
Area: Cells A-D
Cell 3
Cell 4
Cell 6
Comprehensive Study Area
Limits of
Disturbance
Access
Sand Reuse
Area
Earthen
Berms
Comprehensive Study Area
CELLS A-D ARE DESIGNATED AS A COMPREHENSIVE
STUDY AREA. THE PROPOSED DESIGNS SHOWN
HERE INCLUDE DITCH AND CHANNEL FILLING AND
TOPOGRAPHIC COMPLEXITY THROGHOUT THE BOG
SURFACES. THE SPECIFIC DESIGN ELEMENTS MAY
CHANGE AND WILL BE FINALIZED DURING A LATER
PHASE OF DESIGN, BUT MAY INCLUDE:
•TOPOGRAPHIC COMPLEXITY
•SAND REMOVAL
•POND CREATION
•CHANNEL CONSTRUCTION
•ADDITIONAL PERMEABLE REACTIVE BARRIERS
Comprehensive Study Area
Topographic Complexity
Cells 1, 6
Sand Reuse
Area
Earthen
Berms to be
Removed
Access
Cell 1
Cell 6
Cell 1 Cell 6
Irrigation Ponds
Earthen Berms and
Metal Culverts to
be Removed
Proposed
Shallow Ponds
Topographic
Complexity
Existing Channel
to be Filled In
Remove up to 2
feet of Sand
Earthen Berms and
Metal Culverts to
be Removed
Irrigation Ponds to
be Combined – up
to 2 feet in depth
Topographic
Complexity
Existing Channel
to be Filled In
Remove 1 foot
of Sand
Remove up to
1.5 feet of Sand
Cells 3-4
Earthen
Berms to be
Removed
Channel to
be Filled In Cell 3
Cell 4
Cell 3 Cell 4
Earthen Berms and
Metal Culverts to
be Removed
No Sand
Removal
Topographic
Complexity
Existing Channel
to be Filled In
Remove up to
1.5 feet of Sand
Earthen Berms and
Metal Culverts to
be Removed
Maintain
Shallow Ponds
Fill Ditches
No Topographic
Complexity
Existing Channel
to be Filled In
Construct
Outlet Channel
Deciduous
Forested
Swamp
Atlantic White
Cedar SwampUpland
Pollinator
Meadow
Planting
Study Area
Cold Brook, Harwich - During Construction
Sand removal, pond creation, topographic complexity
Cold Brook, Harwich – 1 Year After Construction
Sand removal, pond creation, topographic complexity
27
Tidmarsh Farms, PlymouthDuring Construction
Tidmarsh Farms, PlymouthDuring Construction
Topographic Complexity and Cedar Plantings – Eel River, Plymouth
Completed in 2010
Eel River, MA – 9 yrs after restoration
31Eel River MA – 9 yrs after restoration
32Eel River, MA – 9 yrs after restoration
33
Ecosystem progression from pond to fen to Atlantic white cedar to upland pine
forest at Eel River, 2021
Resource Area Impacts
Existing Area to be Disturbed Proposed Changes
Bank 11,762 linear feet (LF)-4,407 LF
Bordering Vegetated Wetland 1,795,704 square feet (SF)+26,500 SF
Land Under Water 266,140 SF -7,583 SF
Riverfront Area 3,058,695 SF No Change
Project Schedule
•Permitting – Fall/Winter 2025
•Final Design – Winter 2025/2026
•Bidding – Spring 2026
•Construction – Summer-Winter 2026
QUESTIONS?
Nick Nelson, Project Manager
Inter-Fluve
617-714-5537
nnelson@interfluve.com
Neal Price, Principal Scientist
Horsley Witten
508-833-6600
nprice@horsleywitten.com